scientific nameLomographa vestaliatacommon name White Spring MothhabitatVestialis is found in xeric shrubby edges and woodlands.identificationA small (1.5 – 2.3 cm wingspan) shiny white translucent diurnal moth. The dorsal surface is unmarked; the underside is also unmarked except for light grey or brown along the costa. Antennae simple in both sexes. Cabera variolata is very similar but larger and has a scattering of brownish scales on the wings; it is also not “silky”, and males have feathery bipectinate antennae. Both Rindge (1971) and McGuffin (1981) illustrate adults and genitalia of both sexes of vestaliata.life historyAdults are diurnal. The larvae undergo 5 instars, with the adults flying in spring, after overwintering as pupae in the leaf litter or loose soil. Reported larval hosts include Prunus, Craetagus, Sorbus, Malus, Physocarpus, Viburnum and others with a decided preference for Rosaceae (Rindge, op. cit.; McGuffin, op. cit.). Wagner et al (2001) illustrate the larva in color.rangeCommon in eastern North America, from Newfoundland west to southeastern BC; south to Florida and Texas. There is a single Alberta record from the edge of the mountains at Seebe (Rindge, 1979; McGuffin, 1981).taxonomic hierarchy

notesThe only Alberta record for this little moth is a specimen from Seebe reported in McGuffin (op. cit). The specimen illustrated above is from the Moths of Canada website.quick linkhttp://entomology.museums.ualberta.ca/searching_species_details.php?s=6182